Vice President Mike Pence has been campaigning for support for the Trump administration’s trade agreement with Mexico and Canada, taking his pitch to groups and congressional swing districts in hopes of increasing pressure on Congress to take up the preliminary deal. 

On Tuesday, Pence spoke to a friendly audience at the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington, thanking the ambassadors to the U.S. from Canada and Mexico, whose congress already ratified the deal. 

Pence also highlighted what he said were some of the key advantages of the deal, including making it easier for U.S. energy companies to sell oil to Canada and Mexico, and to create incentives for car manufacturers to make more components in North America. 

"It's time for Congress to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada agreement," Pence said. 

Pence made his comments a day after Gov. Doug Ducey spoke on the White House lawn and before the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, saying Arizona businesses needed the certainty the agreement would bring. The presidents of the state’s three public universities have also publicly expressed support for the agreement. 

Ratification of the trade deal is in the hands of Congress. While it is likely to be approved by the Republican-led Senate, its future is uncertain in the Democratic-majority House of Representatives. House-majority Democrats have said they want greater concessions on workers’ rights and environmental provisions.